Discussion questions

1. The novel is set in England in 1872. How does the time period affect the story? How reliable do you think this novel is in presenting a realistic portrait of life at a girl’s school in that era?

2. “I want to live in a world where astonishing things are possible, including bewitched kittens. Don’t you want to live in a world like that too?” (page 125). Do you agree or disagree with Aunt Harriet? How did you feel when you realised the kittens’ magic wasn’t real?

3. A ‘Penny Dreadful’ was a term from the nineteenth century for serialised (released in parts over time) books or comics that were often exciting, cheap and with a lot of popular appeal. Can you think of anything similar to Penny Dreadfuls today that you might have read (or even seen)?

4. Penny’s parents don’t approve of what Aunt Harriet writes, but Penny loves her stories. Discuss popular culture today, and the idea of some content being thought of as intellectual (sometimes called ‘high brow’) and other content seen as silly and for the masses (often referred to as ‘low brow’). What are some books or movies or TV shows you think of as ‘high’ or ‘low’ brow? Do you agree with judging culture in this way?

5. Mr Toddington’s is quite a unique museum. What’s the most unusual museum you’ve ever visited?

Download the book club questions here…

Buy a copy of Miss Penny Dreadful and the Midnight Kittens here.